Cap assembly for instant feeder



s. SAPE RST EIN CAP ASSEMBLY FOR INSTANT FEEDER Sept. 29, 1970 FiledJan. 21, 1969 .IXVENTOR. SIDNEY SAPERSTEIN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,531,009 CAP ASSEMBLY FOR INSTANT FEEDER Sidney Saperstein, Hartsdale, N.Y., assignor to Borden Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 792,532 Int. Cl. A61j 9/08 U.S. Cl. 21511 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a cap assembly for a liquid containing vessel having an open mouth with a rim comprising an insert overlying said mouth, first and second apertures deposed in said insert, a flexible nipple overlying said insert, a cylindrical cover overlying said nipple and first and second sealing means deposed on said insert and second nipple respectively to preclude the entry of contaminants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, disposable feeding containers filled with formula for infants, though limited in distribution, have been favorably received among parents and other child attendants. conventionally, these containers are provided with a cap assembly secured to the bottle month which includes a flexible nipple, often retractable, having an aperture at the free end through which the baby, by suction, withdraws the formula when the container is inclined. When purchased, the cap assembly is usually enshrouded in a removable, cylindrical cover, sealed at its lower arcuate edge to the container sidewalls, as by threads or other conventional means, to preclude the entry of hot water or steam into the container during sterilization.

Though the conventional cap assemblies have, when available, met with reasonable demand, improvements have been prompted because of the absence of sufficient sealing components to withstand the entry of heated liquids in which the container is submerged during sterilization.

Ordinarily, temperatures of about 248 F. are used to sterilize the formula and any seepage of the hot liquids or other contaminants through the cap assembly seals into the container vitates the contents and often distorts the nipple components which control the flow of formula to the infant during use. Unfortunately, such interference with normal flow is frequently encountered in retractable nipple assemblies. Additionally, nipple component distortion breaks the seal of the nipple with the container walls resulting in leakage when the bottle is inclined.

It is exceedingly difficult to design a nipple cap assembly having suflicient seals when retracted to preclude entry of foreign matter and heated liquids which will spring outwardly for use when the cover is removed. This is because the nipple is usually moved to an overcenter position when retracted and the tightly compacted nipple components which form the seals resist outward motion when the compressive forces of the retaining cover is released. Accordingly, the user must manually grasp the teat and pull same to the operative position which is both cumbersome and unsanitary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the states deficiencies of the prior art of retractable cap assemblies for disposable containers and has as its primary object the provision of a sufficiently sealed nipple assembly which will resist the entry of contaminates. Additionally, the present invention envisions a direct injection flow assembly to Patented Sept. 29, 1970 Briefly stated, the present invention relates to a cap assembly for a liquid containing vessel having an open mouth with a rim comprising an insert overlying said mouth adapted to be secured to said rim, said insert including first apertures disposed above the rim and second apertures spaced inwardly of said first apertures, a flexible nipple overlying said insert and adapted to be moved from a retracted stored position to an operative position, and a cover overlying said nipple and adapted to be secured to said vessel to retain said nipple in the stored position, said nipple and said insert including sealing means which preclude entry of contaminates into said container and said nipple during sterilization.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a disposable container 10 comprises a cylindrical mainbody 11 adapted to sealingly contain the infant formula by a suitable cover assembly. The main body includes a tapering neck near the open month which defines an arcuate recess 12 surmounted by rim 13, the latter extending horizontally outwardly to form a shoulder 14. A frustum-conical insert 16 overlies, in inverted position, the container mouth and includes a circular base 17 disposed centrally within the mainbody neck. The base is integrally formed with conical Wall 18 which extends upwardly and terminates in a flared hor izontal flange 19. The flange includes a depending annular rim 20, C-shaped in cross-section, disposed about the container rim which includes a reentrant arcuate ledge 21 received beneath the shoulder 14. Flange 19 also includes an integral, depending annular bead 22, on the undersurface which overlies rim 13. A plurality of angularly spaced apertures 23 are disposed at the interconnection of flange 19 and rim 20 to facilitate the passage of air to the container as will be explained in detail hereinafter. The insert 16 includes second apertures 38 in the conical wall 18. A nipple 24, preferably made of rubber or other resilient material, comprises a teat 2S and an integral flared skirt 26, which terminates in an inwardly projecting portion 27, the latter defining a central circular opening 28 slightly smaller in diameter than the container. The nipple overlies the insert 16 and the edges of the opening are received in the recess 12 to effect a seal which withstands leakage of the formula filling the nipple when the container is inclined. An aperture 40 is provided in the teat for formula removal. An interior depending arcuate bead 29 which overlies and contacts the flange 19, preferably in the same vertical plane as bead 22, when the nipple is retracted, as shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of angularly spaced notches 30 parallel axially with the longitudinal axis of the container are provided in the portion 27 and extend to the edges of the opening 28 to reduce the surface area of contact of the opening with the container whereby seepage or bleeding of air into the container occurs when suction is applied to the teat to effect formula withdrawal. A gap 31 is defined between the inner surface of the nipple portion 27 and the outer surface of the insert rim 20 when the nipple is extended to facilitate air passage into the container from the notch 30 during suction. Obviously when the bottle is inclined, formula will flow into the lowermost portion of gap 31. However, the portion of the gap opposite the filled or the uppermost portion will permit the passage of air into the container via the notch 30.

A cover 32 which includes circular plastic liner 33 enshrouded by metal liner 37, as shown in FIG. 2, retains the nipple in the retracted position during sterilization and prior to use. The plastic liner 33 is provided with depending arcuate skirt 34 which terminates in an inwardly flared rim 35. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the liner 33 includes a downwardly projecting, cylindrical projection 36 which receives the teat 25 therein and presses the flared portion 26 against the circular base 17 of the insert to form an annular seal. This seal precludes the entry of formula into the teat through apertures 38. The metal liner 37 overlies the plastic liner and includes an annular skirt 38, which is juxtaposed with skirt 34 and terminates in arcuate flared portion 39. The portion 39 is received in the recess 12 to effect a substantially hermetic seal in the retracted position. It should be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art that other retaining means such as threads on the interior surface of the metal liner might engage threads on the exterior of the container wall to effect this seal.

In operation, when the nipple is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 2, the seal effected by projection 36 against skirt precludes passage of formula into teat 25 which contaminate same prior to sterilization. Additionally, the bead 22 of the insert engages the container rim to preclude the entry of contaminates or liquids into the container as well as precluding the leakage of the formula. The bead 29 on the nipple is similarly pressed tightly against flange 19, in the same vertical plane as the bead 22 to insure against leakage. When the plastic liner 33 is impressed on the retracted nipple during assembly, portion 27 is bunched tightly in recess 12 to produce an additional seal to compliment the seals achieved by beads 22 and 29.

When the cover is removed, the plastic liner 33 is grasped and withdrawn and the cylindrical projection 36 assists by frictional engagement, movement of the teat to the extended position of FIG. 3. This removal permits the insert to spring upwardly from its prestressed condition to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the ledge 21 engages the shoulder 14 of the rim and permits communication of gap 31 with the container interior via apertures 23. Additionally, the nipple portion 27 springs outwardly from its bunched condition in recess 14 to form gap 31 beneath the lower edge of the insert ledge 21. Thus arranged, formula may pass directly through the apertures 38' in the insert to the interior of the teat and air is drawn through by seepage or bleeding through gaps 31 to facilitate withdrawal of the formula by suction.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention appears in FIG. which discloses the metal cap 37 absent the interior cylindrical liner 33. A plastic cylindrical sleeve 40 of a deformable plastic, such as medium density polyethylene, is received over the nipple teat to which is interconnected a flexible plastic strap 42. The strap will not deform within the sterilization temperature range and includes a depending portion 43 which, in the closed position shown in FIG. 5, is juxtaposed with the interior wall of the skirt 39.

In this embodiment, the stiffness of the nipple rubber is greater than that in the embodiment of FIG. 1, so that an annular seal is formed between the nipple and insert 16 by the rigidity of the former to preclude the entry of formula into the teat interior. The cap 37 imparts a compression force downwardly on the nipple 25 to effect the annular seal and formula is again precluded from entering through the apertures 38'. During sterilization, the sleeve 41 deforms and assumes the contour shape of the teat in the compressed position. Upon removal of the metal cap 37 with the cover 32 the flexible strap 42 may be grasped by the user and drawn outwardly to move the teat to the operative position illustrated in FIG. 7. Only slight adherence occurs between the nipple and the contoured cylinder 41 which is easily broken by the outward stressing imparted by the user.

Although only two embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be incorporated into the details of production without departing from the principles herein set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. A cap assembly for a liquid containing vessel having an open mouth with a rim comprising an insert overlying said mouth adapted to be secured to said rim, said insert including first apertures disposed above the rim and second apertures spaced inwardly of said first apertures, a flexible nipple overlying said insert and adapted to be moved from a retracted position to an erected position, a cover overlying said nipple and adapted to be secured to said vessel to retain said nipple in the retracted position, first and second sealing means disposed on said insert and nipple respectively to preclude the entry of contaminants.

2. A cap assembly according to claim 1 including annular sealing means formed between said nipple and said insert spaced radially inwardly of said second apertures.

3. A cap assembly according to claim 1 wherein said annular sealing means includes a cylindrical projection on the undersurface of said cover adapted to receive said nipple teat therein whereby a seal is effected between said insert and said projection.

4. A cap assembly according to claim 2 wherein said annular sealing means is effected by pressing said nipple teat against said insert.

5. A cap assembly according to claim 1 wherein said insert is an inverted frustumconical configuration adapted to receive said nipple therein in the retracted position.

6. A cap assembly according to claim 1 including a deformable sleeve received over said nipple having an attached flexible strap, said deformable sleeve assuming the contour of said nipple during sterilization.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner 

